OpenAI to launch AI-powered search engine, challenging Google’s dominance

OpenAI is set to announce a new AI-powered search product next Monday, sources close to the development revealed. The launch date, although tentative, marks a significant step in OpenAI’s ongoing rivalry with Google, the current leader in search technology, according to Reuters.

Reports from Bloomberg and Information indicate that Microsoft-backed OpenAI has been developing a search tool aimed at competing not only with Alphabet’s Google but also with Perplexity, a promising AI search startup. This new venture is expected to enhance OpenAI’s ChatGPT capabilities, allowing it to pull real-time information from the web and include quotes in its responses, the report adds.

OpenAI declined to comment on the upcoming announcement, Reuters reported.

The timing of the announcement could be strategic, possibly occurring just one day before Google’s annual I/O conference. At this event, Google is expected to present a series of innovations focused on AI, according to the report.

OpenAI’s initiative expands its ChatGPT functionality, which currently leverages the company’s advanced AI models to deliver human-like text responses. Despite being touted as a revolutionary tool for online information retrieval, ChatGPT has faced challenges in providing accurate and up-to-date web content. To mitigate this, OpenAI previously integrated the service with Microsoft’s Bing search engine for premium users. By contrast, Google has been improving its search engine with new generative AI features, the report added.

Meanwhile, Perplexity AI, established by a former OpenAI researcher and valued at $1 billion, has moved forward by offering a search interface that uniquely presents quotes and images alongside text responses.

The startup reported having 10 million monthly active users in January, according to Reuters.

After its debut in late 2022, ChatGPT quickly became the fastest app to reach 100 million monthly active users. However, Similarweb notes that global traffic to the ChatGPT website has seen fluctuations over the past year, recently stabilizing to match its peak in May 2023. In this context, OpenAI is under increasing pressure to expand its base of users.

In a previous effort to update ChatGPT with real-time web information, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT plugins. However, this feature was discontinued in April, as noted on the OpenAI help center page.

(With contributions from agencies)